Abdominal exercise machine

ABSTRACT

An abdominal exercise machine. The abdominal exercise machine has a landing box held in a vertical position by at least one elongated member. The elongated member is supported by a base connected opposite of the landing box. The elongated member is adjustable by the slidability of a first portion of the elongated member with a second portion of the elongated member. The landing box has a base and sidewalls to support an object placed in the landing box.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/567,107 filed on Oct. 2, 2017. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise machine. More particularly,the machine is designed to exercise the abdominal muscles of a user.

Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excess amount of bodyfat. Individuals who suffer from obesity carry an increased risk ofcardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea, certain kinds of cancer,osteoarthritis and depression. Dieting and physical exercise areimportant steps that an individual must take in losing weight.Additionally, individuals who are not considered obese may wish toengage in physical exercise in order to lose weight for a desiredpurpose.

When an individual wishes to engage in physical exercise, there areseveral exercises that they may wish to engage in, an individual willengage in a series of exercises that each isolate an individual muscleor group of muscles. Under this type of exercise program, the individualmay particularly wish to engage in exercises that target central obesityspecifically.

Excess fat that accumulates on the sides of the abdomen of an individualis colloquially referred to as “love handles.” Many individuals whoexercise desire to increase the amount of muscle present on the sides oftheir abdomen. Thus, there is a need in the known art for a machine thatprovides an individual with the opportunity to exercise their abdominalmuscles, specifically, the oblique abdominal muscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofexercise machines now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides an abdominal exercise machine wherein the same can be utilizedfor providing convenience for the user when exercising their obliqueabdominal muscles.

The present system comprises at least one elongated member having afirst portion and a second portion. The elongated member is affixed at alower end to a base member. The first portion of the elongated member isslidably disposed in the second portion of the elongated member. Alanding box is disposed at an upper end of the elongated member oppositethe base member. The landing box has a base defining a first end and asecond end. At least one sidewall extends from the base opposite theelongated member.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved exercise machine that has all the advantages of the prior artand none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a knob operablyconnected to the base of the landing box such that the height of thetrough base first end and the trough base second end can be adjustedrelative to each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a first portioncomprising a spring-biased push button corresponding to at least oneaperture in the second portion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a landing boxhaving a track therein. The track is configured to receive an objecttherein, such as a medicine ball.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a trackthat is pivotably adjustable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apivotably-adjustable track that is operably connected to an actuator onthe external surface of the landing box.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extendingsidewalls.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide abackboard disposed on the landing box, such that an object placed in thelanding box will not bounce out of the back side of the landing box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the abdominalexercise machine.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of an elongated member of an embodiment ofthe abdominal exercise machine.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the abdominalexercise machine.

FIG. 4 shows an in-use view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercisemachine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the abdominal exercise machine. The figures are intended forrepresentative purposes only and should not be considered to be limitingin any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of anembodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. The abdominal exercisemachine 10 comprises at least one elongated member 11. In the shownembodiment, a single elongated member 11 is defined, however, inalternate embodiments, several elongated members 11 provide support tothe exercise device 10. The elongated member 11 defines a lower end 12and an upper end 13.

The lower end 12 of the elongated member 11 is in connection with a basemember 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the base member 14 comprises aplate extending perpendicularly from the elongated member 14. In thisway, the base member 14 is configured to provide support to theabdominal exercise machine 10. In the shown embodiment, the elongatedmember 11 is received into a sleeve 15 extending perpendicularly upwardfrom the base member 14. The sleeve 15 provides support to the elongatedmember 11 so as to prevent the elongated member 11 from tipping.

In the shown embodiment, the elongated member 11 comprises a firstportion 16 configured to slidably engage a second portion 17. In thisway, the elongated member 11 is adjustable in length, such that the usercan set it at a desired height for efficient exercising. Additionally,in the shown embodiment, the first portion 16 and the second portion 17are each tubular in configuration. Furthermore, the first portion 16defines a circumference of a greater unit of measurement than thecircumference of the second portion 17.

A landing box 18 is affixed at the upper end 13 of the elongated member11. The landing box 18 is defined by a first end 19 and a second end 20.Furthermore, the landing box 18 comprises a base 21 with at least onesidewall 22 extending upward from a perimeter thereof. In the shownembodiment, the landing box 18 is defined by a pair of longitudinallyextending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extending sidewalls. Inone embodiment, the landing box 18 comprises a knob 28 disposed on anexternal surface thereof. In another embodiment, the landing box 18comprises a sleeve on a bottom, exterior surface thereof, wherein thesleeve is configured to secure the landing box to the elongated member.

In the illustrated embodiment, a rear wall 25 extends upward from thebase 21 of the landing box 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the rearwall 25 comprises a height greater than that of the sidewalls 22. Thisupward extension of the rear wall 25 compared to the remainder ofsidewalls 22 enables the rear wall to act as a backboard for an object,such as a medicine ball, that is placed in the landing box 18 while theabdominal exercise machine 10 is in use. In this way, the object isconstrained to the landing box 18 such that the object does not falltherefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a close-up view of an elongatedmember of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. In oneembodiment, the second portion 17 comprises a spring-biased push button23 on an external surface thereof. The spring-biased push button 23corresponds to at least one aperture 24 disposed in the first portion16. The spring-biased push button 23 is configured to selectively movebetween a depressed position and an extended position, wherein thedepressed position, the spring-biased push button 23 is disposed withinthe second portion 17. When the spring-biased push button 23 is in thedepressed position, the first portion 16 becomes freely slidable alongthe second portion 16 such that a linear distance between the landingbox and the base member is adjustable to a desired position. In theillustrated embodiment, the apertures 24 are disposed at intervals,allowing a user to adjust the height of the exercise machine in regularincrements.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of anembodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. In the illustratedembodiment, the landing box 18 further comprises a track 26 disposedtherein. The track 26 is configured to be pivotable around a pivot point27. In one embodiment, the pivot point 27 is operably controllable by aknob (as shown in FIG. 1, 28) in operable connection thereto.

The pivot point 27 control is configured to allow a user to change avertical height of the first end 19 of the track 26 relative to thesecond end 20 of the track 26. In this way, the user can adjust thetrack 26 such that an object, such as a medicine ball, is inserted intothe landing box 18, the object is configured to roll from one end to theother. Adjustment of the vertical height of the first end 19 relative tothe second end 20 allows a user to change the configuration of theabdominal exercise machine such as to enable exercise of each side ofthe abdominal muscles of a user.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an in-use view of an embodimentof the abdominal exercise machine. In use, a user 29 is positioned withhis or her back to the abdominal exercise machine 10. In the shownembodiment, the user 29 is seated on a pedestal. Adjustment of the firstportion of the elongated member 11 relative to the second portion,enables the user 29 to use the abdominal exercise machine 10 in astanding position and a seated position on a floor. In anotherembodiment, the user 29 can adjust the first portion of the elongatedmember 11, such that the landing box is disposed in a vertical positionhigher than the user's vertical height.

The user 29 rotates his or her body while holding an object 30, such asa weighted medicine ball, and places the object 30 into the landing box18. The track 26 is adjustable such that the user can elevate an activeside of the track 26 to allow the object 30 to move or roll from one endto another. The user 29 turns approximately 180 degrees to retrieve theobject 30 from the opposite side of the landing box 18 from where it wasplaced. Upon retrieval, the user 29 rotates again to place the object 30into the landing box on the side of initial placement. In a fitnessprogram, the user 29 completes this action a desired amount ofrepetitions. The user 29 can change the configuration of the track 26 byengaging the pivot point to elevate the opposite side of the track, suchthat the opposite side of abdominal muscles of the user 29 may beexercised.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, thatdepartures may be made within the scope of the invention and thatobvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. Withrespect to the above description then, it is to be realized that theoptimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) An exercise machine comprising: a base member; at least oneelongated member affixed at a lower end thereof to the base member; theelongated member having a first portion slidably disposed in a secondportion; a landing box disposed at an upper end of the elongated memberopposite the base member; the landing box having a base defining a firstend and a second end and at least one sidewall extending from the baseopposite the elongated member. 2) The exercise machine of claim 1,wherein the second portion comprises a spring-biased push buttoncorresponding to at least one aperture in the first portion. 3) Theexercise machine of claim 1, wherein the landing box comprises a tracktherein. 4) The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the track ispivotably adjustable around a pivot point. 5) The exercise machine ofclaim 5, wherein the pivot point is operable connection with a knobdisposed on an external surface of the landing box. 6) The exercisemachine of claim 1, wherein the landing box comprises a pair oflongitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extendingsidewalls. 7) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein a rear wall ofthe landing box comprises a height greater than that of the sidewalls.